The Progressive Democrat Newsletter grew out of the frustration of the 2004 election. Originally intended for New York City progressives, its readership is now national. For anyone who wants to be alerted by email whenever this newsletter is updated (usually weekly), please send your email address and let me know what state you live in (so I can keep track of my readership).

This could be our last chance for decades to reform our healthcare system, and it really needs your input both to Congress and the media.

Related to healthcare reform, there is now a boycott of Whole Foods because it's CEO has been both anti-union and anti-healthcare reform. The CEO is also a loyal Republican. I should add that Whole Foods has never struck me as a good company because they charge higher prices for mediocre quality and have never been up front about their business practices. I prefer Trader Joe's and my local food co-op. A particularly enlightening post about the issue comes from a former Whole Foods employee who is both sympathetic and antagonistic about Whole Foods. I basically suggest avoiding Whole Foods because they are overpriced, mediocre quality and conservative biased. Since I am currently focusing on many boycotts, take it for what it's worth and make your own decisions.

Also in this issue of the Progressive Democrat are boycotts of Glenn Beck advertisers (a boycott that has so far been VERY successful, but needs us to keep up the pressure) and of Chevron/Texaco over their alliance with the military dictators in Burma and their poor environmental record. If you avoid Whole Foods and Chevron/Texaco, and you contact the Glenn Beck advertisers I suggest, you will be helping three very critical progressive movements that are on their way to working. I always like recommending alternatives to the companies I suggest boycotting. Alternatives to Whole Foods include Trader Joe's, local food co-ops, community supported agriculture and local farmers' markets. Alternatives to Chevron/Texaco are harder, but for diesel vehicles I highlight in the newsletter many biodiesel alternatives and for regular gasoline vehicles, I suggest Citgo, BP, Arco, and Sunoco. None of these are ideal, but they are better than average.

For those who follow blogging more closely, you may remember one of my colleagues in Nigeria (Leo Igwe) recently was beaten up for standing up to a Christian cult that abused children. Leo is okay despite being attacked by a mob and he and I are asking for your help in spreading the word about this child abuse and donating to organizations fighting this child abuse. We can really make a big difference here. For more information and the latest update, please go to this Culture Kitchen article. A letter from you to the Nigerian embassy and a small donation to the organizations I highlight are critical for helping Leo and the children he is trying to protect.